Willkie Advises on Sale of CEPL

Firm assists CEPL shareholder Arcapita, an international investment firm, in the contemplated restructuring and subsequent sale of CEPL to ID Logistics.

It was recently announced that ID Logistics, an international contract logistics group, has signed a preliminary agreement to acquire CEPL, a French logistics provider specializing in automated solutions for retail order fulfillment. Willkie advised Arcapita, shareholder of CEPL, in the contemplated restructuring and subsequent sale of CEPL. Based in Béville-le-Comte (Eure-et-Loir), CEPL manages 600,000 square meters in 27 logistics sites with 2,200 employees in France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. The combined entity is expected to leverage on 168 facilities in 14 countries, with a workforce of 12,300 employees and pro forma 2013 revenues exceeding €800 million. Arcapita Bank B.S.C.(c) is an international investment firm headquartered in Bahrain. The deal was handled by partners Eduardo Fernandez and Alexandra Bigot, special European counsel Flavie Hannoun and associate Alexandre Avrillon.